Durant, a Washington, D.C. native, is set to become a free agent in 2016 and is no lock to return to the Thunder. The Wizards took strides last season with their young backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, going down in six games to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Durant could be the Wizards’ best chance at landing a superstar that could take them from playoff team to legitimate title contender.

Are the Wizards a team on the rise?

First things first. Yes, the Wizards are a team that bears watching in the East, There is definitely a buzz going around after the Heat broke up their Big 3 and squads like the 'Zards, Cavaliers, Toronto, and the other teams in the East who were once viewed as league practice fodder, are now young and dangerous with players who are coveted by other organizations, but are firmly entrenched with their home-town clubs.

Is Washington a team on the rise? I would say yes, although Cleveland has the talent base to be an Eastern Conference Title contender for the next decade. Although years of mismanagement have made the Knicks a laughingstock in their own conference, Phil Jackson is now in charge of basketball, and while folks are downplaying this man's eventual impact on New York's success in the league, Jackson has carefully aligned the Knicks fortunes with the fortunes of the NBA. Look for the Knicks to be a contender within 2 years, especially when the salary cap reaches $80-million dollars.